Model shocked and angered as commuters 'stood and watched' while smartly dressed man hurled racist abuse at her on the Tube

Shocked: Miss Choudhury-Reid described her assailant as “respectable-looking” in a blazer and smart trousers

A model today told of her shock after passengers “stood and watched“ when a smartly-dressed commuter racially-abused her in a busy Tube station.

Mahaneela Choudhury-Reid, 21 said she was kicked, shoved and called a “n*****” in the unprovoked attack as she made her way to work via Regent’s Park station in central London.

She said Underground staff and two uniformed soldiers were among scores of witnesses who saw the assault.

Marketing executive Miss Choudhury-Reid, who has featured in campaigns for Nike and online retailer ASOS, said: “I was in floods of tears. I was so angry and hurt. I have never been a victim of racism before.

“It shocks me to my core that so many people were bystanders to this blatant unprovoked attack watched and did nothing.”

The former pupil at Roehampton’s Ibstock Place School later gave a full account of the incident on Twitter. Within minutes her name was trending across the capital as hundreds of outraged readers retweeted her posts and sent her messages of support.

She said: “It shows a dichotomy. No one acted at the time but everyone is outraged afterwards.”

British Transport Police (BTP) and Transport for London today launched an investigation to find her attacker.

Miss Choudhury-Reid described her assailant as “respectable-looking” in a blazer and smart trousers.

She said he was a white, stocky, balding man with a shaved head, wearing glasses.

The attack at 10.30am on Monday began when the man shoved her forward as he pushed his way inside a crowded lift from the platform.

She said he continued to push her in the lift before kicking out at her as they walked to the station barriers.

She said: “I challenged him and said ‘what’s your problem?’ He said ‘you’re my problem.’”

“When I told him to stop acting like a child he called me a f****** n*****’”. He kept swearing at me.

“Our voices were raised - people would have heard why we were saying, but no one stepped in to help me. No one reacted throughout the whole ordeal.”

Twitter users branded the lack of reaction as “bystander effect”.

Marissa, a student, wrote: “I am so sorry. Whether the attack was racially motivated or not, the fact that people watched a man attack a woman is disgusting.”

Phil Hufton, London Underground’s Chief Operating Officer, said: “All of our customers have the right to use our services without fear of being abused. We will not tolerate offensive behaviour towards our customers or staff and we will work with BTP to fully investigate this incident.”